Icontrol Networks, Inc. has partnered with Japan’s Tokyu Corp. to launch state-of-the-art smart-home solutions in Japan first, and then later into the greater Southeast Asia market. The deal provides for Tokyu’s cable television division, Its Communications, to offer Icontrol’s Touchstone solution throughout Asia to their cable customers.
Strategy
Amazon’s Mysterious Lab126 – Poised to Take Over Home Automation?
Online retail behemoth Amazon.com, Inc. has always been pretty secretive about their internal projects and initiatives. Especially so about their Lab126 hardware design division, the group responsible for the popular Kindle e-book reader…and the not-so-popular Fire phone. But a report by Reuters at the end of last month blew the tent cover back enough to get a glimpse of just what this secret lab is working on now – and home automation appears to be in their sights.
See more on Amazon’s Lab126 and what it may mean for home automation… [Read more…] about Amazon’s Mysterious Lab126 – Poised to Take Over Home Automation?
ProSource Scores Deal with Leon Speakers
ProSource, a division of BrandSource and the self-proclaimed largest buying group of AV integrators, announced this week that it has added Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Leon Speakers to its vendor roster. Proclaiming the addition “an honor,” group co-President Jim Ristow says Leon brings “incredible design and top-notch audio quality” to the group.
See more on this news from ProSource… [Read more…] about ProSource Scores Deal with Leon Speakers
What Do Homeowners Really Want from a ‘Smart Home’ System?
52% of Americans Say Having a Smart Home is at Least Somewhat Important to Them
In an new study on consumer attitudes about smart home technology, we find some interesting insights. Some seem logical…while others are a bit of a surprise. We were surprised to find out that more than half of all Americans feel that having a smart home is at least somewhat important to them. And 21% – more than one in five Americans – said having a smart home is very or fairly important to them.
Do consumers want a pro to install their smart home tech? Or will they DIY it?… [Read more…] about What Do Homeowners Really Want from a ‘Smart Home’ System?
Grimani Systems: Is This the ULTIMATE Home Theater?
Grimani Systems
You take a dream team of engineers & systems designers and challenge them to create a new kind of system that would earn the undisputed title of the ultimate home theater system and what do you get? You get Grimani Systems – an all-new company comprised of well-known industry personality Anthony Grimani, engineer Manny LaCarrubba, and business entrepreneur David Steel.
And to create the ultimate system there was only one place to start – with a clean sheet of paper (actually probably a large, clean whiteboard.) From there, the CinemaOne Audio Ensemble was born.
Learn more about this new and audacious upstart company… [Read more…] about Grimani Systems: Is This the ULTIMATE Home Theater?
Center of Planet Panasonic Since 1970, AV Headquarters to be Closed, Demolished & Sold
In what is surely a demonstration of a conclusive shift in its business strategy – not to mention a bit of heavy symbolism in hometown Osaka, Japan – Panasonic Corp. has announced its intentions to close, demolish and sell off the real estate of its existing AV headquarters building that served as the home of its TV and AV business since the 1970s. The center of the universe for tech-heavy Panasonic, many in Japan look to this development as a sign of the end of an era as this 160,000-sq.-meter (1.7 million-sq.-ft.) building was where the company’s TV business and digital electronics businesses were created and managed.
See more on this dramatic example of industrial change in Japan… [Read more…] about Center of Planet Panasonic Since 1970, AV Headquarters to be Closed, Demolished & Sold
Sharp Says They’ll Be First to Market with 8K TVs – Plans 2015 Start
Sharp Corporation has announced in Japan that it intends to be the first company in the world to bring 8K LCD TVs to market – and says it will begin making them in 2015. Sharp made the comments at CEATEC, a major trade show for the IT and CE industries taking place right now in Japan.
Are you ready for 8K?… [Read more…] about Sharp Says They’ll Be First to Market with 8K TVs – Plans 2015 Start
Is the Shake-Up at Core Brands Really About Retirement?
Over the last few days, management of Core Brands has gone out of their way to reach out to several members of the media to talk about last week’s announcement of the retirement of President Bill Pollock, the exit of Senior VP of Sales Dave Keller, and of the layoff of “a small number of full-time positions.” The announcement suggests a lot of turmoil at Core Brands…a company that seems to have “turmoil” as its middle name.
But is this turmoil really about retirement? Or is something else going on at Core Brands?…
[Read more…] about Is the Shake-Up at Core Brands Really About Retirement?
Funai Files $400 Million Claim Against Philips; But Management Infighting Engulfs Funai in Flames
In an unusually breathless and overstimulated report out of Japan, we learn that Funai Electric Co., Ltd. – a large, global OEM manufacturing company of mostly AV gear – has filed a $400 million damage claim in their battle with Philips over the loss of a deal with the European giant for its Woox audio business. Not only that, but the report from the Nikkei also revealed that – at the same time – Funai’s President and CEO of less than 9-months has abruptly resigned in a dispute with upper management on the future direction of the company.
See more on this news out of Japan that sounds more like a reality TV show than a business… [Read more…] about Funai Files $400 Million Claim Against Philips; But Management Infighting Engulfs Funai in Flames
Sharp to Close European Operations; Licenses Brand to UMC of Slovakia
3,000 Sharp European Employees to be Cut
Sharp Corp. said late last week that it has reached an agreement with Universal Media Corp. of Slovakia to license its brand and market Sharp branded products in Europe. As part of this strategy, Sharp will either sell or close its factory in Poland, cutting approximately 3,000 employees in total between their company-owned factory and European operations.
